Friday, July 31, 2015

Payday is finally here and I couldn't be more excited! I don't know if this only happens with me, but it seems that I buy so much more stuff in the summer. Maybe it's the frustration of not having the sun out and having to purchase something to make me feel happier?! #Londonweatherproblems

With this wishlist I feel I should have been paid twice the amount I actually was. I always do this, I always end up spending a lot of money at the beginning of the month and then by the end of it there I am fiddling my thumbs because I'm broke. But on the bright side, with lots of pretty things to cheer me up! So if I think about it, kinda of a win-win situation right?! (wrong!)

Nonetheless, here are the things I've been dying to get my hands on for a little while (and hopefully I will soon).

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

It is no secret that I love a good highlighter and for some reason the thing I have been doing for months now has a name, “strobing”. Blush and bronzer, on the other hand, aren't necessarily added to my daily make-up routine; mostly because I'm always running late and I would much rather spend those extra few minutes layering mascara on my lashes. Having said that, I love how simplified my routine has become from using these products. If I feel like wearing a blusher and a highlighter, I can do so in one go. Similarly, perfecting a bronze look couldn't be easier. Kudos to Collection for bringing these awesome little glow palettes to drugstore shelves for such a small price!

The Gorgeous Glow Blocks come in two different shades, the Bronzing Block and the Blush Block, and both consist of shimmering powder with different shades. They provide a smooth finish and are perfect for a bit of summer contouring and creating flawless cheekbones. Despite the low price, the formula is velvety-soft and a dream to blend. These are also highly pigmented, so apply with caution. A little goes a long way but they feel nice on the skin and are extremely long lasting.

Gorgeous Glow Blush Block £4.19

This beautiful rose gold blush is quickly becoming one of my favourites. With a good brush swirl around the compact, I smile to colour the apples of my cheeks then lightly sweep upwards the cheekbones towards the hairline. The best feature in my opinion is the ability to also highlight with a single product. The tiny shimmers give my skin such a radiant finish, ideal for the summer and that warm glow we all long for. The lighter shades are also great for highlighting the inner corner of your eyes, below the brow bone and down the bridge of your nose making this a must-have and a great all-time rounder.Gorgeous Glow Bronzing Block £4.19

With a mix of light and dark browns (also good to be used as eyeshadows!!), this bronzer proves to be perfect for my skin tone. By using all colours mixed together, the result is a soft bronze glow with no harsh lines. I apply this product under my cheekbones, down the sides of my nose, on my temples and under my jaw line for that ultimate contour look. All in all, this has earned a well-deserved spot in my holiday make-up bag because I will get a lot of use out of one single palette (which in turn then leaves more space for lots and lots of lipsticks :p).

Wear them together, over your base or even alone; these blocks will not disappoint. I honestly cannot think of anything bad to say, that is how much I love these. If you hurry you can get these on sale at Boots for £2.99 each, which I think is really good value for money.

Have you guys tried these? Let me know what you think below.
I will see you beauties soon!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Printed Maxis define summer and are shaping up to be a summer must have in every woman's closet. They elongate our figure, which is exactly what we want (especially if we are still working on our perfect summer body), they cover our worst bits (maybe those extremely pale legs due to the lack of sun) and best of all, they make us look stylish and casual.

When styled right, maxis take on a delicate yet elegant vibe that’s beautiful for summer, both day and night.However, with the great variety of prints and styles, a few tips are worth remembering to make sure we're wearing maxi dresses in the most flattering, stylish way possible.

For my petite beauties, you should choose a dress which is snug around the waist and you cannot go wrong with pairing it with pumps or wedges for that extra height. Small prints are your best friend and a V neck is something you should be going for as it shows more skin and, as a result of the two you will look taller!

On the other hand, for my plus size beautiful ladies, bigger prints are the way to go and darker colours will of course make you look leaner too. Oh, and make sure you go for wider straps; spaghetti straps can make your upper body look bigger, throwing off the balance that the maxi should bring to your figure.

With the above in mind, other tips for all of us include defining the waist with a belt to avoid looking boxy. And in the shoe department, open toe sandals and espadrille wedges can look great, so leave your boots and closed flats behind and opt for something airy and summery instead! Like this:

However you choose to embark on this maxi trend, have fun with the prints and make sure you feel nothing less than gorgeous in it. Accessorising correctly is also the key here; the dress I chose is mainly black and the print is minimalist but with the right accessories you can take your outfit to the next level of chic. With the wide splits down the sides, the dress felt sexy and flattering, exactly what I was going for. An outfit that screams boho chic is always a winner for me, and this left me feeling beautiful and trendy. Cannot wait to wear this dress around the city some more, if the sun ever decides to make an appearance again, and at the beach on my upcoming summer holiday.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Who knew natural, organic nail polish would be the next big thing! Little Ondine comes into the market to change the concept of nail varnish as we know it. A breakthrough formula with natural ingredients such as water, organic colourants, and natural resin aims to bring healthy colour to our nails as well as hydrate them. Sounds too good to be true? Well you better believe it! Not many things that are sent to me leave me with that feeling of wanting more, but I am already picking out my next shades and that is how impressed I am with this stuff.

The formula itself is thick, but not too thick that it makes it difficult to apply. Quite the contrary, a rich pigmented nail polish is what you are in for. It glides beautifully on the nails and with the well designed application brush two strokes is all you need to get perfect coverage. I always go with two coats of normal polish, and this is not any different. Two coats are enough to leave your nails streak free and best of all, with no clumps or bubbles! By the time you are done with your first coat, all of your nails are already dry which is a huge plus for me. I am a very “last minute” kinda girl so you can imagine how messy a wet mani can get when I’m trying to do a billion things at the same time. This however makes on-the-go very much possible, not just because the formula is quick drying but also because it is odour free…yes, let me repeat that: odour free! Confession time: I may or may not have painted my nails numerous times on public transport which in turn then lead to very weird looks from everybody, mostly because of the strong toxic smell. Being able to paint my nails anytime and anywhere without anybody noticing is simply brilliant. Plus, if you get bored of the colour and want to change it, there is no need for acetone. Simply peel it off and start again! The variety of colours makes sure there is a little something for everybody.

Would I stop using “normal” nail polishes? Probably not and that’s because I’m pretty set in my ways. But it is nice to know that there is a product out there to suit those with sensitive nails, kids, mums-to-be or those simply looking for an eco-friendly polish. Little Ondine is for sure giving the big beauty brands a run for their money, and it is no surprise that their product has been nominated for the Lib Beauty Awards 2015 for “Must-Have Makeup”. So if you haven’t yet tried this, I recommend it 100%; these natural, vegan and cruelty-free nail polishes will not disappoint! The nude colours are already on my wishlist and with the discount code “TRYME”, you and I can both get £5 off on our first order.

Have you tried these or any other natural nail polishes yet? Let me know below!

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Bonjour Beauties! July’s Glossybox comes with a French twist and it is very much loved by moi. A gorgeous looking box arrived promptly on Saturday morning so I may be a little late to the party, but better now than never. As always, testing out products before I provide mini reviews is how I like to do things around here. The box described as a “tour de force of favourite French finds”, promises to make us effortlessly stylish and gives us a healthy-looking complexion. I've put the products to the test, and here’s what I think.

In short, it contains acid to resurface the skin and lessen irritation…so yeah it sounds weird, and I'm afraid it is. I didn't feel the mild tingling when applying it but after a few minutes this thing started to peel off of my face and it wasn't a nice feeling at all. No particular difference in my skin was noticed, but to be fair I only used it once. Perhaps this should be given a second chance (given how much this cost!!) but first impressions are important to me and I'm just not sold.

The name says it all, this is a delicious French find! The consistency is just right for a lip balm and it is by far my favourite item in the box. It contains loads of vitamins and it protects your lips from sun damage, making it perfect for the summer and to keep it in your handbag at all times.

This scent remind me of my grandma, but not in a bad way! Love you nana <3 This feminine floral fragrance is subtle, yet long lasting. Mum loves it (I'm not the only who gets all excited when the box arrives) so it's all yours mummy :)

You gotta love a good serum, and this has already become an important addition to my skincare regime. Its consistency is liquidy, and the colour not so pretty but it applies heavenly, and with special moisturisers and antioxidants, it promises to deeply nourish and protect the skin. Will let you know how I get on with it as I use it more often, but so far so good!

Glossybox Exclusive Travel Pouch | £3.99

Second favourite of the box I am so cheap…sigh! The design is gorgeous and being transparent, this pouch makes it possible for us to take all of our beauty essentials through airport security with no issues. Already on my holiday checklist!

Et voilà! Glossybox did good with this one. The box itself is stunning and all of its contents are lovely (even though they are a tad small). I hear a lash primer is coming our way next month, so I am really looking forward to that!

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Yesterday was graduation day in the Scalfi/ Serafim house. My little bro (who isn't so little anymore) graduated from uni and we couldn't be prouder. I'm sure he would agree that our degrees really go to our parents, who have fought so hard for us to be where we are today. Moving to different countries so that your children can have a better life than you did isn't an easy thing to do, but we are thankful for all they have done. Today, we both hold first class honours degrees from prestigious universities, speak multiple languages and all of this couldn't have happened if it weren't for them. Thank you mommy and daddy for always taking care of us! Now it's time for us to the same for you! Oh, and here's my outfit + some pictures from yesterday.

It was a beautiful sunny day out and I love how bright and summery my outfit looked! Now if you excuse me, I'm on my way out to enjoy yet another sunny day, you should definitely do the same if you are in London. :)

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

A collection review hasn't been done over here on the blog in a while but that’s all about to change right now. Rimmel London is embracing the nude trend and their new lipsticks are simply to die for. Nude is stylish, chic, natural and easy! Who doesn't love that look you can easily pull off during the day and night?! Being a fan of the sophisticated nude look, my favourite nude lipstick of all time has been Maybelline Tantilizing Taupe. However something new and better has come our way, and for the value there is no reason why you shouldn't be stocking up on all shades you will love right through summer and autumn. Temptation is a b*tch and, giving in and bringing every single shade home were definitely on my thoughts. Thankfully Rimmel provides us a simple guide to which colour suits our skin tone best, making decision time somewhat easier. Here are the shades I had my heart set on.

Shade 40, the lightest in the collection, is a traditional nude pale. The one on my lips today and whilst it may not be for everyone, the elegance it provides it’s undeniable. Pair it with statement eyes and don’t be afraid to try the "bare yourself" lip look.

A peachy nude works wonder with my skin tone and shade 42 is the ideal pale pink/peachy toned nude. Unlike shade 40, this adds a nice touch of colour to your lips without being too over the top.

A pigmented dewy chocolate colour is what was missing in my make-up collection, so shade 48 is more than the perfect addition. It looks incredible on dark skin tones but being my favourite of the collection, nothing will stop my pale face from wearing it proudly. It screams sensuality and autumn couldn't come any faster for this shade to be worn over and over again.

(Extra shades include 43, a coffee nude worn by Kate herself and 45, the perfect purple/blue undertone nude, all of which you can check out here.)

These lipsticks are for sure my new favourites (only losing to Urban Decay and Chanel!). Pigmentation and durability are amongst the qualities of these extremely hydrating lippies. I find myself wearing them throughout the day with no issues, having to reapply only once or twice after eating. They are long lasting, simple enough to apply, comfortable to wear, don't cake or dry out your lips and due to the wide range of colours you are bound to find the one you love. Each lipstick also matches up to a nude polish. I have yet to try those but given the quality of their previous Salon Pro nail polishes I expect the same results- durability and great coverage. You can pick up one of each for less than £10 (lipsticks priced at £5.49 each and polishes, £4.49 each), and with the current offer at Boots where you buy one and get one half price, you will not be breaking the bank if you decide you want them all; I don't blame you if you do.

Monday, July 13, 2015

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and do a few week recaps in photos. I confess I don't post often enough on Instagram to call this "Insta Week" or whatever else, but I sure take lots of pics (read selfies) throughout the week and I wanted to share a few of my favourites with you all. After all this is my online diary and what better place to share these than here!

1. Being "obsessed" with Nandos doesn't really describe how my boyfriend and I feel about this restaurant. No matter what the occasion is, we always choose their delicious grilled chicken and peri-salted chips.

2.Annnnd that's us chilling at Hyde Park on a sunny afternoon (after that massive Nandos lunch).

3. Shameless selfie obviously! I really like how my make-up turned out on this day but the lighting was all wrong and you can barely see anything (probably should have taken the sunnies off too...ah well). Lipstick I am wearing isL'oreal Eva's Nude.

4. If anything is on the floor, my little fur ball will most likely sit on it <3

5 & 6. There's us again enjoying yet another sunny day. Some of you may not know this, but I'm Brazilianand we love our meat so whenever the sun is out we bbq, religiously.

7. Some of the items I picked up on my recent Beauty Haul which you can read more about here.

Friday, July 10, 2015

When it's too hot to move, let alone blow-dry, curl, or straighten your hair, it's time to let the creativity flow! With a few twists, bobby pins, and very little skills, you can take your hair strands to next-level of chicness. I don't know about you, but in the summer nothing feels better than having my hair up and out of the way so here are my top 5 favourite trends. They all look doable, so switch things up a little and have fun with your beautiful summer hair!

Boho Crown Braid

Braids never go out of style, they were big in spring and they are here to stay this summer. Whilst this looks a bit complicated to accomplish, you will all agree with me that these are gorgeous and perfect for that festival, wedding or even that bbq you're attending. These work better with medium-length to long hair, so if you separate your hair in two ponytails, braid each section and pull them across your head, this is totally achievable. And, if you are looking for something a little more French (get it?), check out this tutorial (here) by Little Miss Momma for the perfect French braided crown; I love the result!

Messy Top Knot

It should be no surprise that this hairstyle made its way to this list. We all have our lazy days (aka bad hair days) where our hair just doesn't seem to want to help us out. Pushing back all hair to the top of my head and rolling it into a knot couldn't be easier and I can probably get it done with my eyes closed. I love how it instantly makes you look more polished and how it brightens up your face. Wear it with a bold lipstick for an outing or with killer long lashes for work, and of course pick your favourite earrings to top it all of.

Beach Wavy Hair

This is how we all wish to look on holiday. Plenty of sea salt spray and the sun provide beautiful carefree waves. Whether you want to leave your hair down, with a braid, or in a high bun, wavy hair can do you no wrong. And how great does the short wavy bob look?! Make like these beauties and work nonchalant hair and beauty look beach-side. Team this hairstyle with a flowy maxi dress or skirt and over-sized shades and you are sure to look like a million bucks!

Pinned Back

This is as simple as 1, 2, 3 and all you will need is a few bobby pins. Twist your hair, and slip your bobby pin underneath to secretly pin back your strands. Pretty girly hair is what you are left with, and I personally love wearing this type of hairstyle with a cute summer dress and for work!

Hair Accessories

And last but certainly not least, these amazing accessories we should all be reaching for this summer. Flower crowns scream festivals and summer parties, whilst chains are boho chic, perfect for that dreamed beach wedding! I would wear these with my favourite off-shoulder dress and that's two trends in one go! I knooooow these may be a little out there for some, but don't they look incredibly beautiful? I bought a few on Asos recently (see here) and I can't wait to wear them on my upcoming holiday!

Tell me, how will you be wearing your hair this summer?

Thanks for reading beauties, and until next time!

xoxo

*photos are from Pinterest and do not belong to me. Collages made by me.